The Saint's Thoughts On Repentance

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As we journey through the desert of Lent, we must remember that repentance is not a mere feeling of guilt, but a profound "reorientation of our whole life" and a "return, a conversion to God with all our heart" (CCC 1431). St. Peter the Apostle, the first Pope, reminds us of the urgency of this turning away from sin: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). This transformation requires a humble recognition of our faults, for as St. Augustine famously noted, "the beginning of evil works is the confession of good works." St. John Chrysostom encourages us not to fear this process, teaching that "repentance is the medicine which destroys sin," while St. Thomas Aquinas clarifies that true penance requires "contrition of heart, confession of mouth, and satisfaction of deed." Even in our deepest failings, St. Claude de la Colombière assures us of God's mercy, noting that "the more we realize our misery, the more we should trust in His goodness," a sentiment echoed by St. Francis de Sales, who advised, "Do not be discouraged by your faults; look at them with a quiet, calm, and steady eye."

True conversion, however, is a matter of the will rather than just the emotions. St. Robert Bellarmine reminds us that "the essence of penance consists in a change of the will," moving us from the love of self back to the love of God. Fulton Sheen beautifully captured this dynamic, stating, "Each of us is a sinner; each of us is a potential saint," emphasizing that Lent is our opportunity to choose the latter path. This choice is rooted in the "virtue of penance," which, as the Catechism teaches, is an interior "religious act" that seeks to make amends for the offense against God (CCC 1430). It is a labor of love, not of dread; as Sheen also observed, "It takes a soul to save a body, but it takes a Cross to save a soul." By embracing the small crosses of Lenten mortification, we allow God’s grace to prune our attachments. Let us then approach the confessional with the confidence of children, for as St. Augustine promised, "God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination."

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